Methods and compositions for silencing gene families using artificial micrornas

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions are provided which allow for a single microRNA (miRNA) to reduce the level of expression of at least two members of the same protein and/or gene family. Such methods and compositions employ miRNA expression constructs having a structure such that the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the construct is a 22-nucleotide miRNA. The 22-nucleotide miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct thereby reduces the level of expression of not only the target sequence for the miRNA, but also reduces the level of expression of at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family as the target sequence.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention relates generally to plant molecular biology. More specifically, it relates to constructs and methods to reduce the level of expression of at least two members of a protein and/or gene family in plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of eukaryotic organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi, have evolved several RNA-silencing pathways to protect their cells and genomes against invading nucleic acids, such as viruses or transposons, and to regulate gene expression during development or in response to external stimuli (for review, see Baulcombe (2005) Trends Biochem Sci 30: 290-293; Meins et al. (2005) Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 21:297-318). In plants, RNA-silencing pathways have been shown to control a variety of developmental processes including flowering time, leaf morphology, organ polarity, floral morphology, and root development (reviewed by Mallory and Vaucheret (2006) Nat Genet 38: S31-36). All RNA-silencing systems involve the processing of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small RNAs of 21 to 25 nucleotides (nt) by an RNaseIII-like enzyme, known as Dicer or Dicer-like in plants (Bernstein et al. (2001) Nature 409: 363-366; Xie et al. (2004) PLoS Biol 2 E104:0642-0652; Xie et al. (2005) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102: 12984-12989; Dunoyer et al., (2005) Nat Genet 37:1356-1360). These small RNAs are incorporated into silencing effector complexes containing an Argonaute protein (for review, see Meister and Tuschl (2004) Nature 431: 343-349).

Artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) have been described in Arabidopsis stargeting viral mRNA sequences (Niu et al. (2006) Nature Biotechnology 24:1420-1428) or endogenous genes (Schwab et al. (2006) Plant Cell 18:1121-1133). The amiRNA construct can be expressed under different promoters in order to change the spatial pattern of silencing (Schwab et al. (2006) Plant Cell 18:1121-1133). Artificial miRNAs replace the microRNA and its complementary star sequence in a miRNA precursor backbone and substitute sequences that target an mRNA to be silenced. Silencing by endogenous miRNAs can be found in a variety of spatial, temporal, and developmental expression patterns (Parizotto et al. (2007) Genes Dev 18:2237-2242; Alvarez et al. (2006) Plant Cell 18:1134-51). Methods and compositions are needed to allow artificial miRNAs to be constructed to both capture and extend the diversity and specificity in the patterns of silencing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods and compositions are provided which allow for a single microRNA (miRNA) to reduce the level of expression of at least two members of the same protein and/or gene family. While a single 21 base pair miRNA can cause cleavage of a variety of species of mRNAs, an entire gene family cannot be silenced unless that gene family shares near identity within a 21 base pair region that is also able to be cleaved by a single miRNA. In certain embodiments, all members of a given protein and/or gene family can be suppressed with a miRNA expression construct disclosed herein even if they do not share near identity within a 21 base pair region that is also able to function as a miRNA. Such methods and compositions employ miRNA expression constructs having a structure such that the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the construct is a 22-nucleotide miRNA. The 22-nucleotide miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct thereby reduces the level of expression of not only the target sequence for the miRNA, but also reduces the level of expression of at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family as the target sequence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the PHP46272 plasmid.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the PHP46271 plasmid.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing that GM-159 FAD2-1B(22) silences both fad2-1 and 2-2 (65% positive).

FIG. 4 is a graph showing that GM-159 FAD2-1B(21) silences only fad2-1 (26% positive).

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the PHP23576 plasmid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

I. Compositions

Methods and compositions are provided that employ microRNA (miRNA) that, when expressed in a plant or plant cell, is capable of decreasing the expression of multiple proteins/genes in a protein and/or gene family. Such methods and compositions employ miRNA expression constructs. As used herein, a “miRNA expression construct” refers to a DNA construct which comprises a miRNA precursor backbone having a polynucleotide sequence encoding a miRNA and a star sequence. The miRNA expression constructs are designed such that the most abundant miRNA produced from the construct is a 22-nucleotide miRNA.

Canonical miRNAs are 21 nucleotides (21-nt) and arise from symmetric foldback in the stem structure of a hairpin precursor. However, 22-nt miRNAs can be formed by the asymmetric foldback of precursors resulting in a 1 nucleotide bulge in the miRNA strand of the hairpin precursor. A miRNA expression construct, as disclosed herein, is designed to encode a 22-nt miRNA and upon expression in a cell, is capable of reducing the level of mRNA for at least two sequences from the same protein and/or gene family.

“MicroRNA” or “miRNA” refers to oligoribonucleic acid, generally of about 19 to about 24 nucleotides (nt) in length, which regulates expression of a polynucleotide comprising a target sequence. MicroRNAs are non-protein-coding RNAs and have been identified in both animals and plants (Lagos-Quintana et al., Science 294:853-858 (2001), Lagos-Quintana et al., Curr. Biol. 12:735-739 (2002); Lau et al., Science 294:858-862 (2001); Lee and Ambros, Science 294:862-864 (2001); Llave et al., Plant Cell 14:1605-1619 (2002); Mourelatos et al., Genes. Dev. 16:720-728 (2002); Park et al., Curr. Biol. 12:1484-1495 (2002); Reinhart et al., Genes. Dev. 16:1616-1626 (2002)). MiRNAs are derived, in plants, via dicer-like 1 processing of larger precursor polynucleotides. As discussed in further detail elsewhere herein, a miRNA can be an “artificial miRNA” or “amiRNA” which comprises a miRNA sequence that is synthetically designed to silence a target sequence.

Plant miRNAs regulate endogenous gene expression by recruiting silencing factors to complementary binding sites in target transcripts. MicroRNAs are initially transcribed as long polyadenylated RNAs and are processed to form a shorter sequence that has the capacity to form a stable hairpin and, when further processed by the siRNA machinery, release a miRNA. In plants, both processing steps are carried out by Dicer-like nucleases. miRNAs function by base-pairing to complementary RNA target sequences and trigger RNA cleavage of the target sequence by an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).

In a few cases, a small RNA interaction with a target sequence can trigger the production of secondary small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from the regions surrounding their primary target sites (Sijen et al. (2001) Cell 107(4):465-76). Secondary amplification of the siRNA population and, thus, amplification of the level of gene silencing, occurs via an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR)-dependent and Dicer-dependent pathway that uses the primary target RNA as a template to generate secondary siRNAs. Newly synthesized double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is subsequently cleaved into siRNAs that are able to guide the degradation of additional secondary target RNAs in a sequence-independent manner. Transitive silencing via this process of generating secondary siRNAs has been observed only in plants and Caenorhabditis elegans and only with siRNA and double stranded RNA constructs (Sijen et al., supra; Vaistij et al. (2002) Plant Cell 14, 857-867).

A. MicroRNA Expression Constructs Encoding 22-Nucleotide miRNAs

MicroRNA expression constructs encoding a 22-nucleotide (22-nt) miRNA are provided herein. As used herein, a miRNA expression construct comprises a polynucleotide capable of being transcribed into an RNA sequence which is ultimately processed in the cell to form a miRNA. In some embodiments, the miRNA encoded by the miRNA expression construct is an artificial miRNA. Various modifications can be made to the miRNA expression construct to encode a miRNA. Such modifications are discussed in detail elsewhere herein.

In one embodiment, the miRNA expression construct comprises a miRNA precursor backbone having a heterologous miRNA and corresponding star sequence. As used herein, a “miRNA precursor backbone” is a polynucleotide that provides the backbone structure necessary to form a hairpin RNA structure which allows for the processing and ultimate formation of the miRNA. Thus, the miRNA precursor backbones are used as templates for expressing artificial miRNAs and their corresponding star sequence. Within the context of a miRNA expression construct, the miRNA precursor backbone comprises a DNA sequence having the heterologous miRNA and star sequences. When expressed as an RNA, the structure of the miRNA precursor backbone is such as to allow for the formation of a hairpin RNA structure that can be processed into a miRNA. In some embodiments, the miRNA precursor backbone comprises a genomic miRNA precursor sequence, wherein said sequence comprises a native precursor in which a heterologous miRNA and star sequence are inserted.

The miRNA precursor backbones can be from any plant. In some embodiments, the miRNA precursor backbone is from a monocot. In other embodiments, the miRNA precursor backbone is from a dicot. In further embodiments, the backbone is from maize or soybean. MicroRNA precursor backbones have been described previously. For example, US20090155910A1 (WO 2009/079532) discloses the following soybean miRNA precursor backbones: 156c, 159, 166b, 168c, 396b and 398b, and US20090155909A1 (WO 2009/079548) discloses the following maize miRNA precursor backbones: 159c, 164h, 168a, 169r, and 396h. Each of these references is incorporated by reference in their entirety. Non-limiting examples of miRNA precursor backbones disclosed herein include, for example, the miRNA GM-396b precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 9) or active variants thereof and the miRNA GM-159 precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 16) or active variants thereof. It is recognized that some modifications can be made to the miRNA precursor backbones provided herein, such that the nucleotide sequences maintain at least 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity with the nucleotide sequence of the unmodified miRNA precursor backbone. Such variants of a miRNA precursor backbone retain miRNA precursor backbone activity and thereby continue to allow for the processing and ultimate formation of the miRNA.

When designing a miRNA expression construct to target a sequence of interest, the miRNA sequence of the backbone can be replaced with a heterologous miRNA designed to target any sequence of interest. In such instances, the corresponding star sequence in the miRNA expression construct will be altered such that it base pairs with the designed miRNA sequence in the precursor RNA to form an imperfect stem structure. In such instances, both the star sequence and the miRNA sequence are heterologous to the miRNA precursor backbone.

Thus, in one embodiment, the miRNA precursor backbone can be altered to allow for efficient insertion of new miRNA and star sequences within the miRNA precursor backbone. In such instances, the miRNA segment and the star segment of the miRNA precursor backbone are replaced with the heterologous miRNA and the heterologous star sequences using a PCR technique and cloned into an expression plasmid to create the miRNA expression construct. It is recognized that there could be alterations to the position at which the heterologous miRNA and star sequences are inserted into the backbone. Detailed methods for inserting the miRNA and star sequence into the miRNA precursor backbone are described elsewhere herein (see, Examples 4 and 5) and are also described in, for example, US Patent Applications 20090155909A1 and US20090155910A1, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In one embodiment, the miRNA precursor backbone comprises a first polynucleotide segment encoding a miRNA and a second polynucleotide segment encoding a star sequence, wherein the first and second polynucleotide segments are heterologous to the miRNA precursor backbone. As used herein, “heterologous” with respect to a sequence is intended to mean a sequence that originates from a foreign species, or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic locus by deliberate human intervention. For example, with respect to a nucleic acid, it can be a nucleic acid that originates from a foreign species, or is synthetically designed, or, if from the same species, is substantially modified from its native form in composition and/or genomic locus by deliberate human intervention. Thus, in the context of a miRNA expression construct, a heterologous miRNA and star sequence are not native to the miRNA precursor backbone.

The order of the miRNA and the star sequence within the miRNA expression construct can be altered. For example, in specific embodiments, the first polynucleotide segment comprising the miRNA segment of the miRNA expression construct is positioned 5′ to the second polynucleotide sequence comprising the star sequence. Alternatively, the second polynucleotide sequence comprising the star sequence can be positioned 5′ to the first polynucleotide sequence comprising the miRNA sequence in the miRNA expression construct.

As discussed above, the miRNA expression constructs are designed such that the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is 22-nt in length. Such an expression construct will therefore comprise a first polynucleotide segment comprising the miRNA sequence and a second polynucleotide segment comprising the corresponding star sequence, wherein the star sequence has at least 1-nt less than the polynucleotide encoding the corresponding miRNA. In such instances, having at least 1 less nucleotide in the star sequence will create a mismatch or “bulge” in the miRNA sequence when the star sequence and miRNA sequence hybridize to each other. Such a structure results in a 22-nt miRNA being the most abundant form of miRNA produced. See, Cuperus et al. (2010) Nature Structural & Mol. Biol. 17(8):997-1004, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As used herein, by “most abundant form” is meant the 22-nt miRNA represents the largest population of miRNAs produced from the miRNA expression construct. In other words, while the miRNA expression construct may produce miRNAs that are not 22-nt in length (i.e. 19-nt, 20-nt, 21-nt, etc.) the most abundant miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is 22-nt in length. Thus, the 22-nt miRNA represents at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or 100% or the total miRNA population produced from the miRNA expression construct.

As used herein, a “star sequence” is the sequence within a miRNA precursor backbone that is complementary to the miRNA and forms a duplex with the miRNA to form the stem structure of a hairpin RNA. In some embodiments, the star sequence can comprise less than 100% complementarity to the miRNA sequence. Alternatively, the star sequence can comprise at least 99%, 98%, 97%, 96%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80% or lower sequence complementarity to the miRNA sequence as long as the star sequence has sufficient complementarity to the miRNA sequence to form a double stranded structure. In still further embodiments, the star sequence comprises a sequence having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mismatches with the miRNA sequence and still has sufficient complementarity to form a double stranded structure with the miRNA sequence resulting in production of miRNA and suppression of the target sequence.

The most abundant miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is 22-nt in length and has sufficient sequence complementarity to a target sequence whose level of RNA is to be reduced. By “sufficient sequence complementarity” to the target sequence is meant that the complementarity is sufficient to allow the 22-nt miRNA to bind to a target sequence and reduce the level of expression of the target sequence. In specific embodiments, a miRNA having sufficient complementarity to the target sequence can share 100% sequence complementarity to the target sequence or it can share less than 100% sequence complementarity (i.e., at least 99%, 98%, 97%, 96%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75%, 70% or less sequence complementarity) to the target sequence. In other embodiments, the miRNA can have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or up to 6 alterations or mismatches with the target sequence, so long as the 22-nt miRNA has sufficient complementarity to the target sequence to reduce the level of expression of the target sequence. Endogenous miRNAs with multiple mismatches with the target sequence have been reported. For example, see Schawb et al. (2005) Developmental Cell 8:517-27 and Cuperus et al. (2010) Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 17:997-1003, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

When designing a miRNA sequence and star sequence for the miRNA expression constructs disclosed herein, various design choices can be made. See, for example, Schwab R, et al. (2005) Dev Cell 8: 517-27. In non-limiting embodiments, the miRNA sequences disclosed herein can have a “U” at the 5′-end, a “C” or “G” at the 19^(th) nucleotide position, and an “A” or “U” at the 10th nucleotide position. In other embodiments, the miRNA design is such that the miRNA have a high free delta-G as calculated using the ZipFold algorithm (Markham, N. R. & Zuker, M. (2005) Nucleic Acids Res. 33: W577-W581.) Optionally, a one base pair change can be added within the 5′ portion of the miRNA so that the sequence differs from the target sequence by one nucleotide.

A “target sequence” refers to the sequence that the miRNA is designed to reduce and thus the expression of its RNA is to be modulated, e.g., reduced. The region of a target sequence of a gene of interest which is used to design the miRNA may be a portion of an open reading frame, 5′ or 3′ untranslated region, exon(s), intron(s), flanking region, etc. General categories of genes of interest include, for example, those genes involved in information, such as transcription factors, those involved in communication, such as kinases, and those involved in housekeeping, such as heat shock proteins. More specific categories, for example, include genes encoding important traits for agronomics, insect resistance, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, sterility, grain characteristics, and commercial products. Genes of interest include, generally, those involved in oil, starch, carbohydrate, or nutrient metabolism as well as those affecting kernel size, sucrose loading, and the like. The target sequence may be an endogenous sequence, or may be an introduced heterologous sequence.

The 22-nt miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is capable of reducing the level of expression of the target sequence and reducing the level of mRNA of the target sequence and at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the 22-nt miRNA. Methods to assay for reduction in expression of two or more members of a protein and/or gene family include, for example, monitoring for a reduction in mRNA levels from the same protein and/or gene family or monitoring for a change in phenotype. Various ways to assay for a reduction in the expression of two or more members of a protein and/or gene family are discussed elsewhere herein. Thus, as disclosed herein, a single miRNA can silence multiple proteins/genes in a protein and/or gene family or an entire protein and/or gene family.

As used herein, “reducing,” “suppression,” “silencing,” and “inhibition” are used interchangeably to denote the down-regulation of the level of expression of a product of a target sequence relative to its normal expression level in a wild type organism. By “reducing the level of RNA” is intended a reduction in expression by any statistically significant amount including, for example, a reduction of at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or 100% relative to the wild type expression level. The term “expression” as used herein refers to the biosynthesis of a gene product, including the transcription and/or translation of said gene product. Thus, expression of a nucleic acid molecule may refer to transcription of the nucleic acid fragment (e.g., transcription resulting in mRNA or other functional RNA) and/or translation of RNA into a precursor or mature protein (polypeptide).

The miRNAs produced from the miRNA expression constructs disclosed herein can suppress all of the members of a protein and/or gene family or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more different sequences within a given protein and/or gene family. As used herein, “gene” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that expresses a specific protein, including regulatory sequences preceding (5′ non-coding sequences) and following (3′ non-coding sequences) the coding sequence. As used herein, “protein family” and “gene family” are intended to refer to structurally related proteins and nucleic acids, respectively, which are often characterized by conserved structural motifs. Gene family members can be defined according to sequences encoding structurally related polypeptides, or according to nucleic acid sequence identity. As used herein, sequences from the same protein and/or gene family are structurally related such that the given nucleic acids share at least 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the other sequence from the same gene family, or such that a given polypeptide share at least 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with the other sequence from the same protein family, or such that a given polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid which share at least 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identity with a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid from the same protein family.

In another embodiment, the members of the protein and/or gene family suppressed by the miRNA do not have 21 consecutive nucleotides in common with each other. In such instances, a “traditional” 21-nt miRNA, which is able to silence a sequence having the corresponding 21-nt sequence, would not be able to silence the at least one additional sequence in the protein and/or gene family. As discussed elsewhere herein, the 22-nt miRNAs produced from the instant miRNA expression construct will reduce the level of expression of at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family as the target sequence.

i. miRNA Expression Constructs Targeting the Galactinol Synthase (GAS) Protein/Gene Family

Compositions are provided comprising a miRNA expression construct, wherein the miRNA target sequence is a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein family and wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the GAS protein and/or gene family.

As used herein, “GAS” refers to a gene or encoded protein that influences raffinose family oligosaccharide (RFO) production: the production of galactinol from myo-inositol and UDP-galactose. In soybean, there are at least three classes of GAS genes, corresponding to at least 5 GAS genes. Representative GAS gene sequences include, without limitation, those disclosed in U.S. Application Publication No. 2006/0005280, WO 01/77306, WO 98/50553, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,210, and Sprenger and Keller (2000) Plant J. 21:249-258.

Expression of a GAS miRNA expression construct presented herein results in a 22-nt miRNA as the most abundant form of miRNA and silences at least two members of the GAS protein and/or gene family. Methods to determine silencing of GAS genes are known in the art. As discussed elsewhere herein, silencing can be assayed by measuring the level of expression of the target mRNA or protein compared to a control not expressing the miRNA. In addition, GAS gene family silencing can be assayed by measuring the levels of raffinose and stachyose in seeds and somatic embryos and comparing these levels to a control seed or embryo not expressing the 22-nt GAS miRNA. Reducing the level of expression of each GAS family member results in a decrease in accumulation of raffinose and stachyose. Thus, for example, reducing expression of each member of the GAS family can result in a decrease in raffinose family oligosaccharide production to <0.5% of wild type levels. By “decrease” is meant a decrease of at least 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more relative to a native control plant, plant part, or cell which did not have the miRNA sequence introduced. For example, Example 7, presented elsewhere herein, provides detailed methods to assay for GAS silencing. Thus, in one embodiment, a miRNA expression construct is provided which, when expressed in a cell, is capable of reducing the level of expression of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more members of the GAS protein and/or gene family.

Also provided herein are miRNA precursor backbones which comprise the GAS miRNA and GAS star sequence. A non-limiting miRNA precursor backbone provided herein is, for example, but not limited to, miRNA GM-396b, and has the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 9 or an active variant thereof. The miRNA sequences and star sequences of the backbone can be converted to the artificial GAS miRNA sequences and star sequences using specific PCR primers as described in detail elsewhere herein. Exemplary GAS primers are provided in Table 1 and have the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 12 and 13.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the GAS miRNA expression construct comprises a miRNA encoded by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2 or an active variant thereof and a star sequence encoded by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6 or an active variant thereof. In another non-limiting embodiment, the GAS miRNA sequence comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or an active variant thereof and the star sequence comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 5 or active variant thereof. An active variant of a given miRNA or star sequence allows for the formation of an active miRNA.

Active variants of the GAS miRNA (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 1), GAS star sequences (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 5), and miRNA precursor backbones are provided herein. The miRNA precursor backbone can be altered, for example, to allow for efficient insertion of new miRNA and star sequences within the miRNA precursor backbone as described elsewhere herein, such that the backbone retains the ability to form a hairpin structure. As discussed elsewhere herein, the miRNA sequence can comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or up to 6 mismatches with the target sequence and still retain activity and hence, bind to a target sequence and suppress expression of the target sequence. In addition, the star sequence can comprise less than 100% complementarity to the miRNA sequence. The star sequence comprises at least 1 less nucleotide than the miRNA sequence or can comprise a sequence having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mismatches with the miRNA sequence and still have sufficient complementarity to form a double stranded structure with the miRNA sequence resulting in production of miRNA and suppression of the target sequence.

ii. miRNA Expression Constructs Targeting the Delta 12 Fatty Acid Desaturase-2 (FAD-2) Protein/Gene Family

Compositions are provided comprising a miRNA expression construct, wherein the miRNA target sequence is a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) protein and/or gene family, and the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family.

Delta-12 fatty acid desaturases function in the endoplasmic reticulum to convert oleic acid (18:1) to linoleic acid (18:2). As used herein, “FAD2” refers to a gene or encoded protein capable of catalyzing the insertion of a double bond into a fatty acyl moiety at the twelfth position counted from the carboxyl terminus. There are at least five members of the FAD2 gene family in soybean (Schlueter et al., Crop Science 47(S1) (2007)). In soybean the FAD2 genes comprise two subfamilies, FAD2-1 and FAD2-2, each having two gene members (Schlueter et al.). FAD2-1 is primarily expressed in seeds, while FAD2-2 is more generally expressed throughout the plant (Heppard et al. (1996) Plant Physiology 110:311-19). Representative FAD2 sequences include, for example, those set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/176,149 filed on Jun. 21, 2002, herein incorporated by reference.

Expression of a FAD2 miRNA expression construct presented herein results in a 22-nt miRNA as the most abundant form of miRNA, which reduces the level of expression of at least two or more members of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family. Methods to assay for the silencing of FAD2 genes are known in the art. As discussed elsewhere herein, silencing can be assayed by measuring the level of expression of the target mRNA or protein compared to a control not expressing the miRNA. In addition, FAD2 gene family silencing can be assayed by measuring the levels of oleic acid in seeds and somatic embryos and comparing these levels to a control seed or embryo not expressing the 22-nt FAD2 miRNA. Reducing the level of expression of each member of the FAD2 family results in an increase in accumulation of oleic acid. By “increase” is meant an increase of at least 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or more relative to a native control plant, plant part, or cell which did not have the miRNA sequence introduced. For example, Example 8, presented elsewhere herein, provides detailed methods to assay for FAD2 silencing. Thus, in one embodiment, a miRNA construct is provided which when expressed in a cell is capable of reducing the level of expression of at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family members.

Also provided herein are miRNA precursor backbones which comprise the FAD2 miRNA and FAD2 star sequence. A non-limiting miRNA precursor backbone provided herein is, for example, but not limited to, miRNA GM-159, and has the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 16 or an active variant thereof. The miRNA sequences and star sequences of the backbone can be converted to the artificial FAD2 miRNA sequences and star sequences using specific PCR primers as described in detail elsewhere herein. Exemplary FAD2 primers are provided in Table 1 and have the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 19 and 20.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the FAD2 miRNA expression construct can comprise a miRNA encoded by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:4 or an active variant thereof and a star sequence encoded by the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8 or an active variant thereof. In another non-limiting embodiment, the FAD2 miRNA sequence comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 or an active variant thereof and the star sequence comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 or an active variant thereof.

Active variants of the FAD2 miRNA (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 3), FAD2 star sequences (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 7) and miRNA precursor backbones are provided herein. The miRNA precursor backbone can be altered, for example, to allow for efficient insertion of new miRNA and star sequences within the miRNA precursor backbone as described elsewhere herein, such that the backbone retains the ability to form a hairpin structure. As discussed elsewhere herein, the miRNA sequence can comprise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or up to 6 mismatches with the target sequence and still retain activity and hence, bind to a target sequence and suppress expression of the target sequence. In addition, the star sequence can comprise less than 100% complementarity to the miRNA sequence. The star sequence comprises at least 1 less nucleotide than the miRNA sequence or can comprise a sequence having 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more mismatches with the miRNA sequence and still have sufficient complementarity to form a double stranded structure with the miRNA sequence resulting in production of miRNA and suppression of the target sequence.

B. Polynucleotides Encoding the miRNA Expression Constructs and Methods of Making

Compositions further include isolated or recombinant polynucleotides that encode the miRNA expression constructs, the various components of the miRNA expression constructs, along with the various products of the miRNA expression constructs that are processed into the miRNA. Exemplary components of the miRNA expression constructs include, for example, polynucleotides comprising miRNA precursor backbones, miRNA and star sequences, primers for generating the miRNAs and nucleotide sequences that encode the various RNA sequences. Such polynucleotides are summarized in Table 2. As used herein, “encodes” or “encoding” refers to a DNA sequence which can be processed to generate an RNA and/or polypeptide.

The terms “polynucleotide,” “polynucleotide sequence,” “nucleic acid sequence,” and “nucleic acid fragment” are used interchangeably herein. These terms encompass nucleotide sequences and the like. A polynucleotide may be a polymer of RNA or DNA that is single- or double-stranded, that optionally contains synthetic, non-natural or altered nucleotide bases. A polynucleotide in the form of a polymer of DNA may be comprised of one or more segments of cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, or mixtures thereof. The use of the term “polynucleotide” is not intended to limit the present invention to polynucleotides comprising DNA. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that polynucleotides, can comprise ribonucleotides and combinations of ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides. Such deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides include both naturally occurring molecules and synthetic analogues. The polynucleotides of the invention also encompass all forms of sequences including, but not limited to, single-stranded forms, double-stranded forms, hairpins, stem-and-loop structures, and the like.

The compositions provided herein can comprise an isolated or substantially purified polynucleotide. An “isolated” or “purified” polynucleotide is substantially or essentially free from components that normally accompany or interact with the polynucleotide as found in its naturally occurring environment. Thus, an isolated or purified polynucleotide is substantially free of other cellular material, or culture medium when produced by recombinant techniques, or substantially free of chemical precursors or other chemicals when chemically synthesized. Optimally, an “isolated” polynucleotide is free of sequences (optimally protein encoding sequences) that naturally flank the polynucleotide (i.e., sequences located at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the polynucleotide) in the genomic DNA of the organism from which the polynucleotide is derived. For example, in various embodiments, the isolated polynucleotide can contain less than about 5 kb, 4 kb, 3 kb, 2 kb, 1 kb, 0.5 kb, or 0.1 kb of nucleotide sequence that naturally flank the polynucleotide in genomic DNA of the cell from which the polynucleotide is derived.

Further provided are recombinant polynucleotides comprising the miRNA expression constructs and various components thereof. The terms “recombinant polynucleotide” and “recombinant DNA construct” are used interchangeably herein. A recombinant construct comprises an artificial or heterologous combination of nucleic acid sequences, e.g., regulatory and coding sequences that are not found together in nature. For example, a miRNA expression construct can comprise a miRNA precursor backbone having heterologous polynucleotides comprising the miRNA sequence and the star sequence and, thus the miRNA sequence and star sequence are not native to the miRNA precursor backbone. In other embodiments, a recombinant construct may comprise regulatory sequences and coding sequences that are derived from different sources, or regulatory sequences and coding sequences derived from the same source, but arranged in a manner different than that found in nature. Such a construct may be used by itself or may be used in conjunction with a vector. If a vector is used, then the choice of vector is dependent upon the method that will be used to transform host cells as is well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a plasmid vector can be used. The skilled artisan is well aware of the genetic elements that must be present on the vector in order to successfully transform, select and propagate host cells comprising any of the isolated nucleic acid fragments of the invention. The skilled artisan will also recognize that different independent transformation events will result in different levels and patterns of expression (Jones et al., EMBO J. 4:2411-2418 (1985); De Almeida et al., Mol. Gen. Genetics 218:78-86 (1989)), and thus that multiple events must be screened in order to obtain lines displaying the desired expression level and pattern. Such screening may be accomplished by Southern analysis of DNA, Northern analysis of mRNA expression, immunoblotting analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis, among others.

In specific embodiments, one or more of the miRNA expression constructs described herein can be provided in an expression cassette for expression in a plant or other organism or cell type of interest. The cassette can include 5′ and 3′ regulatory sequences operably linked to a polynucleotide provided herein. “Operably linked” is intended to mean a functional linkage between two or more elements. For example, an operable linkage between a polynucleotide of interest and a regulatory sequence (i.e., a promoter) is a functional link that allows for expression of the polynucleotide of interest. Operably linked elements may be contiguous or non-contiguous. When used to refer to the joining of two protein coding regions, by operably linked is intended that the coding regions are in the same reading frame. The cassette may additionally contain at least one additional gene to be cotransformed into the organism. Alternatively, the additional gene(s) can be provided on multiple expression cassettes. Such an expression cassette is provided with a plurality of restriction sites and/or recombination sites for insertion of a recombinant polynucleotide to be under the transcriptional regulation of the regulatory regions. The expression cassette may additionally contain selectable marker genes.

The expression cassette can include in the 5′-3′ direction of transcription, a transcriptional and translational initiation region (i.e., a promoter), a recombinant polynucleotide provided herein, and a transcriptional and translational termination region (i.e., termination region) functional in plants. The regulatory regions (i.e., promoters, transcriptional regulatory regions, and translational termination regions) and/or a recombinant polynucleotide provided herein may be native/analogous to the host cell or to each other. Alternatively, the regulatory regions and/or a recombinant polynucleotide provided herein may be heterologous to the host cell or to each other. For example, a promoter operably linked to a heterologous polynucleotide is from a species different from the species from which the polynucleotide was derived, or, if from the same/analogous species, one or both are substantially modified from their original form and/or genomic locus, or the promoter is not the native promoter for the operably linked polynucleotide. Alternatively, the regulatory regions and/or a recombinant polynucleotide provided herein may be entirely synthetic.

The termination region may be native with the transcriptional initiation region, may be native with the operably linked recombinant polynucleotide of interest, may be native with the plant host, or may be derived from another source (i.e., foreign or heterologous) to the promoter, the recombinant polynucleotide of interest, the plant host, or any combination thereof. Convenient termination regions are available from the Ti-plasmid of A. tumefaciens, such as the octopine synthase and nopaline synthase termination regions. See also Guerineau et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 262:141-144; Proudfoot (1991) Cell 64:671-674; Sanfacon et al. (1991) Genes Dev. 5:141-149; Mogen et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2:1261-1272; Munroe et al. (1990) Gene 91:151-158; Ballas et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res. 17:7891-7903; and Joshi et al. (1987) Nucleic Acids Res. 15:9627-9639.

In preparing the miRNA expression cassette, the various DNA fragments may be manipulated, so as to provide for the DNA sequences in the proper orientation. Toward this end, adapters or linkers may be employed to join the DNA fragments or other manipulations may be involved to provide for convenient restriction sites, removal of superfluous DNA, removal of restriction sites, or the like. For this purpose, in vitro mutagenesis, primer repair, restriction, annealing, resubstitutions, e.g., transitions and transversions, may be involved.

A number of promoters can be used in the miRNA expression constructs provided herein. The promoters can be selected based on the desired outcome. It is recognized that different applications can be enhanced by the use of different promoters in the miRNA expression constructs to modulate the timing, location and/or level of expression of the miRNA. Such miRNA expression constructs may also contain, if desired, a promoter regulatory region (e.g., one conferring inducible, constitutive, environmentally- or developmentally-regulated, or cell- or tissue-specific/selective expression), a transcription initiation start site, a ribosome binding site, an RNA processing signal, a transcription termination site, and/or a polyadenylation signal.

In some embodiments, a miRNA expression construct provided herein can be combined with constitutive, tissue-preferred, or other promoters for expression in plants. Examples of constitutive promoters include the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S transcription initiation region, the 1′- or 2′-promoter derived from T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the ubiquitin 1 promoter, the Smas promoter, the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase promoter (U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,439), the Nos promoter, the pEmu promoter, the rubisco promoter, the GRP1-8 promoter and other transcription initiation regions from various plant genes known to those of skill. If low level expression is desired, weak promoter(s) may be used. Weak constitutive promoters include, for example, the core promoter of the Rsyn7 promoter (WO 99/43838 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,050), the core 35S CaMV promoter, and the like. Other constitutive promoters include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,608,149; 5,608,144; 5,604,121; 5,569,597; 5,466,785; 5,399,680; 5,268,463; and 5,608,142. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,611, herein incorporated by reference.

Examples of inducible promoters are the Adh1 promoter which is inducible by hypoxia or cold stress, the Hsp70 promoter which is inducible by heat stress, the PPDK promoter and the pepcarboxylase promoter which are both inducible by light. Also useful are promoters which are chemically inducible, such as the In2-2 promoter which is safener induced (U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,780), the ERE promoter which is estrogen induced, and the Axig1 promoter which is auxin induced and tapetum specific but also active in callus (PCT US01/22169).

Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that initiate transcription preferentially in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, fruit, seeds, or flowers. An exemplary promoter is the anther specific promoter 5126 (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,689,049 and 5,689,051). Examples of seed-preferred promoters include, but are not limited to, 27 kD gamma zein promoter and waxy promoter, Boronat, A. et al. (1986) Plant Sci. 47:95-102; Reina, M. et al. Nucl. Acids Res. 18(21):6426; and Kloesgen, R. B. et al. (1986) Mol. Gen. Genet. 203:237-244. Promoters that express in the embryo, pericarp, and endosperm are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,529 and PCT publication WO 00/12733. The disclosures for each of these are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Chemical-regulated promoters can be used to modulate the expression of a gene in a plant through the application of an exogenous chemical regulator. Depending upon the objective, the promoter may be a chemical-inducible promoter, where application of the chemical induces gene expression, or a chemical-repressible promoter, where application of the chemical represses gene expression. Chemical-inducible promoters are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, the maize In2-2 promoter, which is activated by benzenesulfonamide herbicide safeners, the maize GST promoter, which is activated by hydrophobic electrophilic compounds that are used as pre-emergent herbicides, and the tobacco PR-1a promoter, which is activated by salicylic acid. Other chemical-regulated promoters of interest include steroid-responsive promoters (see, for example, the glucocorticoid-inducible promoter in Schena et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:10421-10425 and McNellis et al. (1998) Plant J. 14(2):247-257) and tetracycline-inducible and tetracycline-repressible promoters (see, for example, Gatz et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 227:229-237, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,814,618 and 5,789,156), herein incorporated by reference.

Tissue-preferred promoters can be utilized to target enhanced expression of a miRNA expression construct within a particular plant tissue. Tissue-preferred promoters are known in the art. See, for example, Yamamoto et al. (1997) Plant J. 12(2):255-265; Kawamata et al. (1997) Plant Cell Physiol. 38(7):792-803; Hansen et al. (1997) Mol. Gen Genet. 254(3):337-343; Russell et al. (1997) Transgenic Res. 6(2):157-168; Rinehart et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(3):1331-1341; Van Camp et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(2):525-535; Canevascini et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 112(2):513-524; Yamamoto et al. (1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35(5):773-778; Lam (1994) Results Probl. Cell Differ. 20:181-196; Orozco et al. (1993) Plant Mol Biol. 23(6):1129-1138; Matsuoka et al. (1993) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(20):9586-9590; and Guevara-Garcia et al. (1993) Plant J. 4(3):495-505. Such promoters can be modified, if necessary, for weak expression.

Leaf-preferred promoters are known in the art. See, for example, Yamamoto et al. (1997) Plant J. 12(2):255-265; Kwon et al. (1994) Plant Physiol. 105:357-67; Yamamoto et al. (1994) Plant Cell Physiol. 35(5):773-778; Gotor et al. (1993) Plant J. 3:509-18; Orozco et al. (1993) Plant Mol. Biol. 23(6):1129-1138; and Matsuoka et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(20):9586-9590. In addition, the promoters of cab and rubisco can also be used. See, for example, Simpson et al. (1958) EMBO J4:2723-2729 and Timko et al. (1988) Nature 318:57-58.

Root-preferred promoters are known and can be selected from the many available from the literature or isolated de novo from various compatible species. See, for example, Hire et al. (1992) Plant Mol. Biol. 20(2):207-218 (soybean root-specific glutamine synthetase gene); Keller and Baumgartner (1991) Plant Cell 3(10):1051-1061 (root-specific control element in the GRP 1.8 gene of French bean); Sanger et al. (1990) Plant Mol. Biol. 14(3):433-443 (root-specific promoter of the mannopine synthase (MAS) gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens); and Miao et al. (1991) Plant Cell 3(1):11-22 (full-length cDNA clone encoding cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS), which is expressed in roots and root nodules of soybean). See also Bogusz et al. (1990) Plant Cell 2(7):633-641, where two root-specific promoters isolated from hemoglobin genes from the nitrogen-fixing nonlegume Parasponia andersonii and the related non-nitrogen-fixing nonlegume Trema tomentosa are described. The promoters of these genes were linked to a β-glucuronidase reporter gene and introduced into both the nonlegume Nicotiana tabacum and the legume Lotus corniculatus, and in both instances root-specific promoter activity was preserved. Leach and Aoyagi (1991) describe their analysis of the promoters of the highly expressed roIC and roID root-inducing genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (see Plant Science (Limerick) 79(1):69-76). They concluded that enhancer and tissue-preferred DNA determinants are dissociated in those promoters. Teeri et al. (1989) used gene fusion to lacZ to show that the Agrobacterium T-DNA gene encoding octopine synthase is especially active in the epidermis of the root tip and that the TR2′ gene is root specific in the intact plant and stimulated by wounding in leaf tissue, an especially desirable combination of characteristics for use with an insecticidal or larvicidal gene (see EMBO J. 8(2):343-350). The TR1′ gene, fused to nptII (neomycin phosphotransferase II) showed similar characteristics. Additional root-preferred promoters include the VfENOD-GRP3 gene promoter (Kuster et al. (1995) Plant Mol. Biol. 29(4):759-772); and roIB promoter (Capana et al. (1994) Plant Mol. Biol. 25(4):681-691. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,876; 5,750,386; 5,633,363; 5,459,252; 5,401,836; 5,110,732; and 5,023,179. The phaseolin gene (Murai et al. (1983) Science 23:476-482 and Sengopta-Gopalen et al. (1988) PNAS 82:3320-3324.

The expression cassette containing the miRNA expression construct can also comprise a selectable marker gene for the selection of transformed cells. Selectable marker genes are utilized for the selection of transformed cells or tissues. Marker genes include genes encoding antibiotic resistance, such as those encoding neomycin phosphotransferase II (NEO) and hygromycin phosphotransferase (HPT), as well as genes conferring resistance to herbicidal compounds, such as glufosinate ammonium, bromoxynil, imidazolinones, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) and sulfonylureas. Additional selectable markers include phenotypic markers such as beta-galactosidase and fluorescent proteins such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) (Su et al. (2004) Biotechnol. Bioeng. 85:610-9 and Fetter et al. (2004) Plant Cell 16:215-28), cyan fluorescent protein (CYP) (Bolte et al. (2004) J. Cell Science 117:943-54 and Kato et al. (2002) Plant Physiol. 129:913-42), and yellow fluorescent protein (PhiYFP™ from Evrogen; see, Bolte et al. (2004) J. Cell Science 117:943-54). For additional selectable markers, see generally, Yarranton (1992) Curr. Opin. Biotech. 3:506-511; Christopherson et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6314-6318; Yao et al. (1992) Cell 71:63-72; Reznikoff (1992) Mol. Microbiol. 6:2419-2422; Barkley et al. (1980) in The Operon, pp. 177-220; Hu et al. (1987) Cell 48:555-566; Brown et al. (1987) Cell 49:603-612; Figge et al. (1988) Cell 52:713-722; Deuschle et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Aci. USA 86:5400-5404; Fuerst et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:2549-2553; Deuschle et al. (1990) Science 248:480-483; Gossen (1993) Ph.D. Thesis, University of Heidelberg; Reines et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:1917-1921; Labow et al. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:3343-3356; Zambretti et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:3952-3956; Baim et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:5072-5076; Wyborski et al. (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19:4647-4653; Hillenand-Wissman (1989) Topics Mol. Struc. Biol. 10:143-162; Degenkolb et al. (1991) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 35:1591-1595; Kleinschnidt et al. (1988) Biochemistry 27:1094-1104; Bonin (1993) Ph.D. Thesis, University of Heidelberg; Gossen et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5547-5551; Oliva et al. (1992) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 36:913-919; Hlavka et al. (1985) Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Vol. 78 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin); Gill et al. (1988) Nature 334:721-724. Such disclosures are herein incorporated by reference. The above list of selectable marker genes is not meant to be limiting. Any selectable marker gene can be used in the compositions presented herein.

C. Plants

Compositions comprising a cell, a transgenic plant cell, a transgenic plant, a transgenic seed, and a transgenic explant comprising a miRNA expression construct are further provided. In one embodiment, a cell, plant, plant cell or plant seed comprise a miRNA expression construct, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of expression of two or more members of a protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the 22-nt miRNA. It is recognized that the miRNA encoded by the miRNA expression construct can target any protein and/or gene family.

In further embodiments, cells, plant cells, plants or seeds comprise a miRNA expression construct comprising a miRNA precursor backbone further comprising a heterologous miRNA sequence and a heterologous star sequence. The miRNA precursor backbone can be from any plant. In some embodiments, the miRNA precursor backbone can be from a monocot (i.e. maize) or a dicot (i.e. soybean). For example, miRNA precursor backbones can comprise, but are not limited to, the miRNA GM-396b precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 9) or active variants thereof or the miRNA GM-159 precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 16) or active variants thereof.

In other embodiments, cells, plant cells, plants or seeds are provided comprising a miRNA expression construct, wherein the miRNA target sequence is a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein family wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the GAS protein and/or gene family. Reducing the level of expression of GAS family members results in the plant having a decrease in accumulation of raffinose and stachyose as described elsewhere herein.

Further provided are cells, plant cells, plants or seeds comprising a miRNA expression construct, wherein the miRNA target sequence is a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) protein and/or gene family, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family. Reducing the level of expression of the FAD2 family members results in the plant having an increase in accumulation of oleic acid as described elsewhere herein.

As used herein, “plant” includes reference to whole plants, plant organs, plant tissues, seeds and plant cells and progeny of same. Plant cells include, without limitation, cells from seeds, suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. The term “plant tissue” includes differentiated and undifferentiated tissues including, but not limited to the following: roots, stems, shoots, leaves, pollen, seeds, tumor tissue and various forms of cells and culture (e.g., single cells, protoplasts, embryos and callus tissue). The plant tissue may be in plant or in a plant organ, tissue or cell culture.

A transformed plant or transformed plant cell provided herein is one in which genetic alteration, such as transformation, has been affected as to a gene of interest, or is a plant or plant cell which is descended from a plant or cell so altered and which comprises the alteration. A “transgene” is a gene that has been introduced into the genome by a transformation procedure. Accordingly, a “transgenic plant” is a plant that contains a transgene, whether the transgene was introduced into that particular plant by transformation or by breeding; thus, descendants of an originally-transformed plant are encompassed by the definition. A “control” or “control plant” or “control plant cell” provides a reference point for measuring changes in phenotype of the subject plant or plant cell. A control plant or plant cell may comprise, for example: (a) a wild-type plant or cell, i.e., of the same genotype as the starting material for the genetic alteration which resulted in the subject plant or cell; (b) a plant or plant cell of the same genotype as the starting material but which has been transformed with a null construct (i.e., with a construct which does not express the miRNA, such as a construct comprising a marker gene); (c) a plant or plant cell which is a non-transformed segregant among progeny of a subject plant or plant cell; (d) a plant or plant cell genetically identical to the subject plant or plant cell but which is not exposed to conditions or stimuli that would induce expression of the miRNA; or (e) the subject plant or plant cell itself, under conditions in which the miRNA expression construct is not expressed.

Plant cells that have been transformed to have a miRNA expression construct provided herein can be grown into whole plants. The regeneration, development, and cultivation of plants from single plant protoplast transformants or from various transformed explants is well known in the art. See, for example, McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84; Weissbach and Weissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, (Eds.), Academic Press, Inc. San Diego, Calif., (1988). This regeneration and growth process typically includes the steps of selection of transformed cells, culturing those individualized cells through the usual stages of embryonic development through the rooted plantlet stage. Transgenic embryos and seeds are similarly regenerated. The resulting transgenic rooted shoots are thereafter planted in an appropriate plant growth medium such as soil. Preferably, the regenerated plants are self-pollinated to provide homozygous transgenic plants. Otherwise, pollen obtained from the regenerated plants is crossed to seed-grown plants of agronomically important lines. Conversely, pollen from plants of these important lines is used to pollinate regenerated plants. Two or more generations may be grown to ensure that expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic is stably maintained and inherited and then seeds harvested to ensure expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic has been achieved. In this manner, the compositions presented herein provide transformed seed (also referred to as “transgenic seed”) having a polynucleotide provided herein, for example, a miRNA expression construct, stably incorporated into their genome.

The miRNA expression constructs provided herein may be used for transformation of any plant species, including, but not limited to, monocots (e.g., maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye) and dicots (e.g., soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa). Examples of plant species of interest include, but are not limited to, corn (Zea mays), Brassica sp. (e.g., B. napus, B. rapa, B. juncea), particularly those Brassica species useful as sources of seed oil, alfalfa (Medicago sativa), rice (Oryza sativa), rye (Secale cereale), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, Sorghum vulgare), millet (e.g., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), finger millet (Eleusine coracana)), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), wheat (Triticum aestivum), soybean (Glycine max), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), cotton (Gossypium barbadense, Gossypium hirsutum), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatus), cassaya (Manihot esculenta), coffee (Coffea spp.), coconut (Cocos nucifera), pineapple (Ananas comosus), citrus trees (Citrus spp.), cocoa (Theobroma cacao), tea (Camellia sinensis), banana (Musa spp.), avocado (Peryea americana), fig (Ficus casica), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), olive (Olea europaea), papaya (Carica papaya), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia), almond (Prunus amygdalus), sugar beets (Beta vulgaris), sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), oats, barley, vegetables, ornamentals, and conifers.

Vegetables include tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), lettuce (e.g., Lactuca sativa), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), lima beans (Phaseolus limensis), peas (Lathyrus spp.), and members of the genus Cucumis such as cucumber (C. sativus), cantaloupe (C. cantalupensis), and musk melon (C. melo). Ornamentals include azalea (Rhododendron spp.), hydrangea (Macrophylla hydrangea), hibiscus (Hibiscus rosasanensis), roses (Rosa spp.), tulips (Tulipa spp.), daffodils (Narcissus spp.), petunias (Petunia hybrida), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), and chrysanthemum.

Conifers that may be employed herein include, for example, pines such as loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliotii), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata); Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); Western hemlock (Tsuga canadensis); Sitka spruce (Picea glauca); redwood (Sequoia sempervirens); true firs such as silver fir (Abies amabilis) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea); and cedars such as Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and Alaska yellow-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). In specific embodiments, plants provided herein are crop plants (for example, corn, alfalfa, sunflower, Brassica, soybean, cotton, safflower, peanut, sorghum, wheat, millet, tobacco, etc.). In other embodiments, corn and soybean plants are optimal, and in yet other embodiments soybean plants are optimal.

Other plants of interest include grain plants that provide seeds of interest, oil-seed plants, and leguminous plants. Seeds of interest include grain seeds, such as corn, wheat, barley, rice, sorghum, rye, etc. Oil-seed plants include cotton, soybean, safflower, sunflower, Brassica, maize, alfalfa, palm, coconut, etc. Leguminous plants include beans and peas. Beans include guar, locust bean, fenugreek, soybean, garden beans, cowpea, mungbean, lima bean, fava bean, lentils, chickpea, etc.

Depending on the miRNA target sequence, the transgenic plants, plant cells, or seeds expressing a miRNA expression construct provided herein may have a change in phenotype, including, but not limited to, an altered pathogen or insect defense mechanism, an increased resistance to one or more herbicides, an increased ability to withstand stressful environmental conditions, a modified ability to produce starch, a modified level of starch production, a modified oil content and/or composition, a modified carbohydrate content and/or composition, a modified fatty acid content and/or composition, a modified ability to utilize, partition and/or store nitrogen, and the like.

II. Methods of Introducing

The methods provided herein comprise introducing into a cell, plant cell, plant or seed a miRNA expression construct, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of expression of the target sequence and of at least one additional member of the same protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the 22-nt miRNA. It is recognized that the miRNA encoded by the miRNA expression construct can target any protein and/or gene family.

The miRNA expression constructs that can be introduced into a cell, plant cell, plant or seed comprise a miRNA precursor backbone further comprising a heterologous miRNA sequence and a heterologous star sequence. The miRNA precursor backbone can be from any plant. In some embodiments, the miRNA precursor backbone can be from a monocot (i.e. maize) or a dicot (i.e. soybean). For example, the miRNA precursor backbone can comprise, but is not limited to, the miRNA GM-396b precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 9) or active variants thereof or the miRNA GM-159 precursor backbone (SEQ ID NO: 16) or active variants thereof.

In some embodiments, a miRNA expression construct is introduced and comprises a miRNA target sequence that is a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein and/or gene family, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the GAS protein and/or gene family. In other embodiments, the miRNA expression construct comprises a miRNA target sequence that is a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase-2 (FAD2) protein and/or gene family, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of mRNA expression of at least one additional member of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family.

The methods provided herein do not depend on a particular method for introducing a sequence into the host cell, only that the polynucleotide gains access to the interior of a least one cell of the host. Methods for introducing polynucleotides into host cells (i.e. plants) are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, stable transformation methods, transient transformation methods, and virus-mediated methods.

The terms “introducing” and “introduced” are intended to mean providing a nucleic acid (e.g., miRNA expression construct) or protein into a cell. Introduced includes reference to the incorporation of a nucleic acid into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell where the nucleic acid may be incorporated into the genome of the cell, and includes reference to the transient provision of a nucleic acid or protein to the cell. Introduced includes reference to stable or transient transformation methods, as well as sexually crossing. Thus, “introduced” in the context of inserting a nucleic acid fragment (e.g., a miRNA expression construct) into a cell, means “transfection” or “transformation” or “transduction” and includes reference to the incorporation of a nucleic acid fragment into a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell where the nucleic acid fragment may be incorporated into the genome of the cell (e.g., chromosome, plasmid, plastid, or mitochondrial DNA), converted into an autonomous replicon, or transiently expressed (e.g., transfected mRNA).

“Stable transformation” is intended to mean that the nucleotide construct introduced into a host (i.e., a plant) integrates into the genome of the plant and is capable of being inherited by the progeny thereof. “Transient transformation” is intended to mean that a polynucleotide is introduced into the host (i.e., a plant) and expressed temporally.

Transformation protocols as well as protocols for introducing polynucleotide sequences into plants may vary depending on the type of plant or plant cell, i.e., monocot or dicot, targeted for transformation. Suitable methods of introducing polynucleotides into plant cells include microinjection (Crossway et al. (1986) Biotechniques 4:320-334), electroporation (Riggs et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:5602-5606, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (Townsend et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055; Zhao et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840), direct gene transfer (Paszkowski et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3:2717-2722), and ballistic particle acceleration (see, for example, Sanford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050; Tomes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,918; Tomes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,244; Bidney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,782; Tomes et al. (1995) “Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells via Microprojectile Bombardment,” in Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture Fundamental Methods, ed. Gamborg and Phillips (Springer-Verlag, Berlin); McCabe et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:923-926); and Lec1 transformation (WO 00/28058). Also see Weissinger et al. (1988) Ann. Rev. Genet. 22:421-477; Sanford et al. (1987) Particulate Science and Technology 5:27-37 (onion); Christou et al. (1988) Plant Physiol. 87:671-674 (soybean); McCabe et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6:923-926 (soybean); Finer and McMullen (1991) In Vitro Cell Dev. Biol. 27P:175-182 (soybean); Singh et al. (1998) Theor. Appl. Genet. 96:319-324 (soybean); Datta et al. (1990) Biotechnology 8:736-740 (rice); Klein et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:4305-4309 (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Biotechnology 6:559-563 (maize); Tomes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,855; Buising et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,322,783 and 5,324,646; Tomes et al. (1995) “Direct DNA Transfer into Intact Plant Cells via Microprojectile Bombardment,” in Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ Culture: Fundamental Methods, ed. Gamborg (Springer-Verlag, Berlin) (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Plant Physiol. 91:440-444 (maize); Fromm et al. (1990) Biotechnology 8:833-839 (maize); Hooykaas-Van Slogteren et al. (1984) Nature (London) 311:763-764; Bowen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,369 (cereals); Bytebier et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:5345-5349 (Liliaceae); De Wet et al. (1985) in The Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissues, ed. Chapman et al. (Longman, New York), pp. 197-209 (pollen); Kaeppler et al. (1990) Plant Cell Reports 9:415-418 and Kaeppler et al. (1992) Theor. Appl. Genet. 84:560-566 (whisker-mediated transformation); D'Halluin et al. (1992) Plant Cell 4:1495-1505 (electroporation); Li et al. (1993) Plant Cell Reports 12:250-255 and Christou and Ford (1995) Annals of Botany 75:407-413 (rice); Osjoda et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnology 14:745-750 (maize via Agrobacterium tumefaciens); all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

In specific embodiments, the miRNA expression construct disclosed herein can be provided to a plant using a variety of transient transformation methods. Such transient transformation methods include, but are not limited to, the introduction of the miRNA expression constructs or variants thereof directly into the plant. Such methods include, for example, microinjection or particle bombardment. See, for example, Crossway et al. (1986) Mol Gen. Genet. 202:179-185; Nomura et al. (1986) Plant Sci. 44:53-58; Hepler et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 91: 2176-2180 and Hush et al. (1994) The Journal of Cell Science 107:775-784, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the polynucleotides can be transiently transformed into the plant using techniques known in the art. Such techniques include viral vector system and the precipitation of the polynucleotide in a manner that precludes subsequent release of the DNA. Thus, the transcription from the particle-bound DNA can occur, but the frequency with which it is released to become integrated into the genome is greatly reduced. Such methods include the use of particles coated with polyethylimine (PEI; Sigma #P3143).

In other embodiments, miRNA expression constructs disclosed herein may be introduced into plants by contacting plants with a virus or viral nucleic acids. Generally, such methods involve incorporating a nucleotide construct of the invention within a viral DNA or RNA molecule. Methods for introducing polynucleotides into plants and expressing a protein encoded therein, involving viral DNA or RNA molecules, are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,889,191, 5,889,190, 5,866,785, 5,589,367, 5,316,931, and Porta et al. (1996) Molecular Biotechnology 5:209-221; herein incorporated by reference.

Methods are known in the art for the targeted insertion of a polynucleotide at a specific location in the plant genome. In one embodiment, the insertion of the polynucleotide at a desired genomic location is achieved using a site-specific recombination system. See, for example, WO99/25821, WO99/25854, WO99/25840, WO99/25855, and WO99/25853, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. Briefly, the miRNA expression constructs provided herein can be contained in a transfer cassette flanked by two non-identical recombination sites. The transfer cassette is introduced into a plant having stably incorporated into its genome a target site which is flanked by two non-identical recombination sites that correspond to the sites of the transfer cassette. An appropriate recombinase is provided and the transfer cassette is integrated at the target site. The miRNA expression construct is thereby integrated at a specific chromosomal position in the plant genome.

The cells that have been transformed may be grown into plants in accordance with conventional ways. See, for example, McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports 5:81-84. These plants may then be grown, and either pollinated with the same transformed strain or different strains, and the resulting progeny having constitutive expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic identified. Two or more generations may be grown to ensure that expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic is stably maintained and inherited and then seeds harvested to ensure expression of the desired phenotypic characteristic has been achieved. In this manner, transformed seed (also referred to as “transgenic seed”) having a miRNA expression construct disclosed herein, stably incorporated into their genome is provided.

III. Methods of Use

A method of reducing the level of mRNA of two or more sequences in a cell (e.g. a plant cell) by introducing into the cell a miRNA expression construct is provided. In such methods, the mRNA level of the target sequence and the mRNA level of at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family as the target sequence are reduced relative to the level of each mRNA in the absence of expression of the miRNA expression construct.

Methods provided herein comprise introducing into a cell (i.e. a plant cell) a miRNA expression construct, wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA that is capable of reducing the level of expression of two or more members of a protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the 22-nt miRNA. Methods further provide a miRNA expression construct comprising a miRNA precursor backbone further comprising a heterologous miRNA sequence and a heterologous star sequence. It is recognized that any miRNA that reduces the level of expression of two or more sequences in the same protein and/or gene family, even if they do not share near identity within a 21 base pair region that is also able to function as a miRNA, could be used in the methods provided herein. Further, any miRNA precursor backbone provided herein (i.e. SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16 or active variants thereof) can be employed in the provided methods.

In some embodiments, the miRNA target sequence encodes a GAS family member. In such methods, a miRNA expression construct is introduced into a cell, a plant cell, or a plant. The miRNA expression construct comprises a miRNA target sequence that encodes a member of the GAS protein and/or gene family (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 2 or an active variant thereof), wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA. Thus, the level of expression of the target sequence and at least one additional member of the GAS protein and/or gene family are reduced. In these methods, the resulting phenotype is a decrease in accumulation of raffinose and stachyose as described elsewhere herein.

In other embodiments, the target sequence can be directed to a FAD2 family member. In such methods, a miRNA expression construct is introduced into a cell, a plant cell, or a plant. The miRNA expression construct comprises a miRNA target sequence that encodes a member of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family (i.e. SEQ ID NO: 4 or an active variant thereof), wherein the most abundant form of miRNA produced from the miRNA expression construct is a 22-nt miRNA. Thus, the level of expression of the target sequence and at least one additional member of the FAD2 protein and/or gene family are reduced. In these methods, the resulting phenotype is an increase in accumulation of oleic acid as described elsewhere herein.

In specific embodiments, the miRNA expression constructs disclosed in the methods herein reduce expression of any target sequence or protein and/or gene family of interest in any plant. In specific embodiments, the plant comprises a dicot or a monocot and in further embodiments, the dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton or alfalfa and the monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum or rye.

In a particular aspect, a method is provided wherein expression of only one of the two or more sequences of a gene family would be suppressed if a miRNA provided herein was 21 nucleotides in length.

Any appropriate method can be used to assay for a reduced level of expression of two or more sequences from the same protein and/or gene family. For example, evaluation of reduced expression of a target nucleic acid in a plant or plant part, may be accomplished by a variety of means such as Northern analysis of mRNA expression, Western analysis of protein expression, or phenotypic analysis based on the function of the encoded proteins. In some embodiments, levels of other plant by-products such as oil can be analyzed as an indicator of a reduced level of expression of two or more sequences. Expression products of a target nucleic acid can be detected in any of a variety of ways, depending upon the nature of the product (e.g., Western blot and enzyme assay).

IV. Active Variants of the Disclosed Polynucleotides

Active variants of the polynucleotides employed in the compositions and methods are further encompassed. For example, active variants of any of the miRNA expression constructs or one of its components, such as the miRNA precursor backbone, the miRNA, or the star sequence (i.e. SEQ ID NOS: 1-9 and 16) are encompassed herein. “Variants” refer to substantially similar sequences. For polynucleotides, a variant comprises a deletion and/or addition of one or more nucleotides at one or more internal sites within the polynucleotide and/or a substitution of one or more nucleotides at one or more sites in the polynucleotide. Variants of the miRNA expression constructs, miRNA precursor backbones, miRNAs, and/or star sequences disclosed herein may retain activity of the miRNA expression construct, miRNA precursor backbone, miRNA, and/or star sequence as described in detail elsewhere herein. Variant polynucleotides can include synthetically derived polynucleotides, such as those generated, for example, by using site-directed mutagenesis. Generally, variants of a miRNA expression construct, miRNA precursor backbone, miRNA, and/or star sequence (i.e. SEQ ID NOS: 1-9 and 16) disclosed herein will have at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or more sequence identity to that particular polynucleotide as determined by sequence alignment programs and parameters described elsewhere herein.

Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well known in the art. Thus, the determination of percent sequence identity between any two sequences can be accomplished using a mathematical algorithm. Non-limiting examples of such mathematical algorithms are the algorithm of Myers and Miller (1988) CABIOS 4:11-17; the local alignment algorithm of Smith et al. (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482; the global alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453; the search-for-local alignment method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:2444-2448; the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 872264, modified as in Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5877.

Computer implementations of these mathematical algorithms can be utilized for comparison of sequences to determine sequence identity. Such implementations include, but are not limited to: CLUSTAL in the PC/Gene program (available from Intelligenetics, Mountain View, Calif.); the ALIGN program (Version 2.0) and GAP, BESTFIT, BLAST, FASTA, and TFASTA in the GCG Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Version 10 (available from Accelrys Inc., 9685 Scranton Road, San Diego, Calif., USA). Alignments using these programs can be performed using the default parameters. The CLUSTAL program is well described by Higgins et al. (1988) Gene 73:237-244 (1988); Higgins et al. (1989) CABIOS 5:151-153; Corpet et al. (1988) Nucleic Acids Res. 16:10881-90; Huang et al. (1992) CABIOS 8:155-65; and Pearson et al. (1994) Meth. Mol. Biol. 24:307-331. The BLAST programs of Altschul et at (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 are based on the algorithm of Karlin and Altschul (1990) supra. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the BLASTN program, score=100, wordlength=12, to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to a nucleotide sequence provided herein. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be utilized as described in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389. Alternatively, PSI-BLAST (in BLAST 2.0) can be used to perform an iterated search that detects distant relationships between molecules. See Altschul et al. (1997) supra. When utilizing BLAST, Gapped BLAST, PSI-BLAST, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., BLASTN for nucleotide sequences, BLASTX for proteins) can be used. See www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Alignment may also be performed manually by inspection.

Unless otherwise stated, sequence identity/similarity values provided herein refer to the value obtained using GAP Version 10 using the following parameters: % identity and % similarity for a nucleotide sequence using GAP Weight of 50 and Length Weight of 3, and the nwsgapdna.cmp scoring matrix; % identity and % similarity for an amino acid sequence using GAP Weight of 8 and Length Weight of 2, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix. By “equivalent program” is intended any sequence comparison program that, for any two sequences in question, generates an alignment having identical nucleotide or amino acid residue matches and an identical percent sequence identity when compared to the corresponding alignment generated by GAP Version 10.

Units, prefixes, and symbols may be denoted in their SI accepted form. Unless otherwise indicated, nucleic acids are written left to right in 5′ to 3′ orientation; amino acid sequences are written left to right in amino to carboxy orientation, respectively. Numeric ranges are inclusive of the numbers defining the range. Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes. The above-defined terms are more fully defined by reference to the specification as a whole.

Non-limiting examples of methods and compositions disclosed herein are as follows:

1. An isolated or recombinant polynucleotide capable of being transcribed into an RNA sequence, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a miRNA expression construct, wherein said miRNA expression construct comprises:

-   -   a) a miRNA precursor backbone comprising a first polynucleotide         segment encoding a miRNA and a second polynucleotide segment         encoding a star sequence;     -   b) said first and said second polynucleotide segments are         heterologous to the miRNA precursor backbone;     -   c) said first polynucleotide segment comprises 22-nucleotides         (22-nt) which have sufficient sequence complementary to a target         sequence whose level of RNA is to be reduced;     -   d) said second polynucleotide segment comprises the complement         of the first polynucleotide segment and further comprises at         least 1 less nucleotide than said first polynucleotide segment,         wherein a 22-nt miRNA is the most abundant form of miRNA         produced from said miRNA expression construct; and,     -   e) said 22-nt miRNA produced from said miRNA expression         construct is capable of reducing the level of mRNA of the target         sequence and of at least one additional sequence from the same         protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be         reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the         22-nt miRNA.

2. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 1, wherein said first polynucleotide segment is 5′ to the said second polynucleotide segment.

3. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 1, wherein said second polynucleotide segment is 5′ to the said first polynucleotide segment.

4. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiments 1-3, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone is from a plant.

5. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 4, wherein said plant is a monocot.

6. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 4, wherein said plant is a dicot.

7. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 5, wherein said monocot is maize.

8. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 6, wherein said dicot is soybean.

9. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiments 1-4, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone comprises a polynucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16 or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16, wherein said sequence retains miRNA precursor backbone activity.

10. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein and/or gene family.

11. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 10, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6.

12. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 10, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

13. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase 2 protein and/or gene family.

14. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 13, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8.

15. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of embodiment 13, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.

16. A recombinant DNA construct comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-15.

17. The recombinant DNA construct of embodiment 16, wherein said recombinant DNA construct comprises a promoter operably linked to the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide.

18. A transformed plant cell comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-15.

19. A transformed plant comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-15.

20. The transformed plant cell or plant of embodiments 18 or 19, wherein said plant or plant cell or plant is a dicot.

21. The transformed plant cell or plant of embodiment 20, wherein said dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa.

22. The transformed plant cell or plant of embodiment 18 or 19, wherein said plant is a monocot.

23. The transformed plant cell or plant of embodiment 22, wherein said monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye.

24. A transformed seed of the plant of any one of embodiments 19-23.

25. A method of reducing the level of mRNA of at least two sequences from the same protein and/or gene family in a cell comprising introducing into the cell the recombinant or isolated polynucleotide of any one of embodiments 1-15 or the DNA construct of embodiments 16-17, wherein the expression of said polynucleotide reduces the level of mRNA of each of said at least two sequences relative to the level of mRNA of each of said at least two sequences in the absence of expression of said polynucleotide.

26. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the level of mRNA of only one of said two or more sequences would be reduced if said miRNA was 21 nucleotides in length.

27. The method of embodiments 25 or 26, wherein said cell is a plant cell.

28. The method of any one of embodiments 25-27, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone comprises a polynucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 16 or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16, wherein said sequence retains miRNA precursor backbone activity.

29. The method of any one of embodiments 25-26, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein and/or gene family.

30. The method of embodiment 29, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 6.

31. The method of embodiment 30, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

32. The method of any one of embodiments 25-29, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase 2 protein and/or gene family.

33. The method of embodiment 32, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 8.

34. The method of embodiment 33, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3.

35. The method of any one of embodiments 27-34, wherein said plant is a dicot.

36. The method of embodiment 35, wherein said dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa.

37. The method of any one of embodiments 27-34, wherein said plant is a monocot.

38. The method of embodiment 37, wherein said monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye.

EXPERIMENTAL

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit, the claimed invention. It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only, and persons skilled in the art will recognize various reagents or parameters that can be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Example 1 Design of Artificial MicroRNA Sequences

Artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) that have the ability to silence multiple genes in a gene family can be designed largely according to rules described in Schwab R, et al. (2005) Dev Cell 8: 517-27 except that the amiRNA sequences are 22 nucleotides in length. To summarize, the amiRNA sequences can have a “U” at the 5′-end, a “C” or “G” at the 19^(th) nucleotide position, and an “A” or “U” at the 10th nucleotide position. An additional requirement for artificial microRNA design is that the amiRNA have a high free delta-G as calculated using the ZipFold algorithm (Markham, N. R. & Zuker, M. (2005) Nucleic Acids Res. 33: W577-W581.) Optionally, a one base pair change can be added within the 5′ portion of the amiRNA so that the sequence differs from the target sequence by one nucleotide.

An amiRNA (SEQ ID NO:1) was designed to silence the GAS genes (the DNA sequence corresponding to this amiRNA is represented by SEQ ID NO:2). Another amiRNA (SEQ ID NO:3) was designed to silence FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 (the DNA sequence corresponding to this amiRNA is represented by SEQ ID NO:4).

Example 2 Design of Artificial Star Sequences

“Star sequences” are those that base pair with the miRNA sequences in the precursor RNA to form imperfect stem structures. Artificial star sequences can be designed by comparing an endogenous precursor structure consisting of a miRNA and an endogenous star sequence with a precursor structure consisting of an amiRNA and an artificial star sequence. The endogenous precursor is folded using mfold (M. Zuker (2003) Nucleic Acids Res. 31: 3406-15; and D. H. Mathews, J. et al. (1999) J. Mol. Biol. 288: 911-940). Then the miRNA sequence is replaced with the amiRNA sequence, and the endogenous star sequence is replaced with the exact reverse complement of the amiRNA except one base is removed. The removal of this base creates a “bulge” in the miRNA sequence upon folding. The altered sequence is then folded with mfold, and the original and altered structures are compared by eye. If necessary, further alterations to the artificial star sequence can be introduced to maintain the original structure.

An artificial star sequence was designed to silence the GAS genes (SEQ ID NO:5; SEQ ID NO:6 is the DNA sequence corresponding to this artificial star sequence). An artificial star sequence was also designed to silence FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 (SEQ ID NO:7; SEQ ID NO:8 is the DNA sequence corresponding to this artificial star sequence).

Example 3 Conversion of Genomic MicroRNA Precursors to Artificial MicroRNA Precursors

Genomic miRNA precursor genes (“backbones”), such as those described in US20090155909A1 (WO 2009/079548) and in US20090155910A1 (WO 2009/079532), can be converted to amiRNAs using overlapping PCR, and the resulting DNAs can be completely sequenced and then cloned downstream of an appropriate promoter in a vector capable of transformation.

Alternatively, amiRNAs can be synthesized commercially, for example, by Codon Devices (Cambridge, Mass.), DNA 2.0 (Menlo Park, Calif.) or Genescript (Piscataway, N.J.). The synthesized DNA is then cloned downstream of an appropriate promoter in a vector capable of soybean transformation.

Artificial miRNAs can also be constructed using In-Fusion™ technology (Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) as shown in Examples 4 and 5.

Example 4 Generation of a GAS amiRNA Precursor to Silence Multiple GAS Genes in Soybean

The microRNA GM-396b precursor (SEQ ID NO:9) was altered to include Pme I sites immediately flanking the star and microRNA sequences to form the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-396b precursor (SEQ ID NO:10). This sequence was cloned into the Not I site of KS332 (also known as PHP27753) to form the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-396b-KS332 plasmid (SEQ ID NO:11).

The microRNA GM-396b precursor (SEQ ID NO:9) was used as a PCR template with the primers shown in Table 1 (SEQ ID NOs:12 and 13). The primers were designed according to the protocol provided by Clontech and do not leave any footprint of the Pme I sites after the In-Fusion™ recombination reaction. The amplified DNA (SEQ ID NO:14) was recombined into the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-396b-KS332 plasmid (SEQ ID NO:11) digested with Pme I. This was done using protocols provided with the In-Fusion™ kit. The resulting plasmid GM-396b-GAS C(22)/KS322 (also known as PHP46272) is shown in FIG. 1 and is represented by SEQ ID NO:15.

Example 5 Generation of a FAD2 amiRNA Precursor to Silence FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 in Soybean

The microRNA GM-159 precursor (SEQ ID NO:16) was altered to include Pme I sites immediately flanking the star and microRNA sequences to form the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-159 precursor (SEQ ID NO:17). This sequence was cloned into the Not I site of KS332 (also known as PHP27753) to form the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-159-KS332 plasmid (SEQ ID NO:18).

The microRNA GM-159 precursor (SEQ ID NO:16) was used as a PCR template with the primers shown in Table 1 (SEQ ID NOs:19 and 20). The primers were designed according to the protocol provided by Clontech and do not leave any footprint of the Pme I sites after the In-Fusion™ recombination reaction. The amplified DNA (SEQ ID NO:21) was recombined into the In-Fusion™ ready microRNA GM-159-KS332 plasmid (SEQ ID NO:18) digested with Pme I. This was done using protocols provided with the In-Fusion™ kit. The resulting plasmid GM-159-FAD2-1b(22)/KS322 (also known as PHP46271) is shown in FIG. 2 and is represented by SEQ ID NO:22.

TABLE 1 Primers for In-Fusion ™ Inserts SEQ ID Primer Name Sequence NO: GM-159- aaggggattatgaagcttcccaacccaattccctcttgaggatcttactg 19 FAD2- 1b(22)priA GM-159- aagaagagaagggtgcttcctcaacccttttccctcagaaggttaatact 20 FAD2- 1b(22)priB GM-396b- tctcaagtcctggtcatgctttcctcatatatatcccaccactcttatgcatcttatatc 12 GASC (22)priA GM-396b- cctgaattgccatattctcctcatatatatcccatactctagggcttaaaatcctggag 13 GASC (22)priB

Example 6 Transformation of Soybean Culture Conditions:

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures (cv. Jack) are maintained in 35 mL liquid medium SB196 (infra) on a rotary shaker, 150 rpm, 26° C. with cool white fluorescent lights on 16:8 hr day/night photoperiod at light intensity of 60-85 μE/m²/s. Cultures are subcultured every 7 days to 2 weeks by inoculating approximately 35 mg of tissue into 35 mL of fresh liquid SB196 (the preferred subculture interval is every 7 days).

Soybean embryogenic suspension cultures are transformed with soybean expression plasmids by the method of particle gun bombardment (Klein et al., Nature, 327:70 (1987)) using a DuPont Biolistic PDS1000/HE instrument (helium retrofit) for all transformations.

Soybean Embryogenic Suspension Culture Initiation:

Soybean cultures are initiated twice each month with 5-7 days between each initiation. Pods with immature seeds from available soybean plants 45-55 days after planting are picked, removed from their shells and placed into a sterilized magenta box. The soybean seeds are sterilized by shaking them for 15 min in a 5% Clorox solution with 1 drop of ivory soap (i.e., 95 mL of autoclaved distilled water plus 5 mL Clorox and 1 drop of soap, mixed well). Seeds are rinsed using 2 1-liter bottles of sterile distilled water and those less than 4 mm are placed on individual microscope slides. The small end of the seed is cut and the cotyledons pressed out of the seed coat. Cotyledons are transferred to plates containing SB1 medium (25-30 cotyledons per plate). Plates are wrapped with fiber tape and stored for 8 weeks. After this time secondary embryos are cut and placed into SB196 liquid media for 7 days.

Preparation of DNA for Bombardment:

Either an intact plasmid or a DNA plasmid fragment containing the delta-5 desaturase genes of interest and the selectable marker gene are used for bombardment. Fragments from soybean expression plasmids comprising the delta-5 desaturase of the present invention are obtained by gel isolation of digested plasmids. The resulting DNA fragments are separated by gel electrophoresis on 1% SeaPlaque GTG agarose (BioWhitaker Molecular Applications) and the DNA fragments containing gene cassettes are cut from the agarose gel. DNA is purified from the agarose using the GELase digesting enzyme following the manufacturer's protocol.

A 50 μL aliquot of sterile distilled water containing 3 mg of gold particles is added to 5 μL of a 1 μg/μL DNA solution (either intact plasmid or DNA fragment prepared as described above), 50 μL 2.5 M CaCl₂ and 20 μL of 0.1 M spermidine. The mixture is shaken 3 min on level 3 of a vortex shaker and spun for 10 sec in a bench microfuge. After a wash with 400 μL of 100% ethanol, the pellet is suspended by sonication in 40 μL, of 100% ethanol. DNA suspension (5 μL) is dispensed to each flying disk of the Biolistic PDS1000/HE instrument disk. Each 5 μL, aliquot contains approximately 0.375 mg gold particles per bombardment (i.e., per disk).

Tissue Preparation and Bombardment with DNA:

Approximately 150-200 mg of 7 day old embryonic suspension cultures is placed in an empty, sterile 60×15 mm petri dish and the dish is covered with plastic mesh. Tissue is bombarded 1 or 2 shots per plate with membrane rupture pressure set at 1100 PSI and the chamber is evacuated to a vacuum of 27-28 inches of mercury. Tissue is placed approximately 3.5 inches from the retaining/stopping screen.

Selection of Transformed Embryos:

Transformed embryos ate selected using hygromycin as the selectable marker. Specifically, following bombardment, the tissue is placed into fresh SB196 media and cultured as described above. Six days post-bombardment, the SB196 is exchanged with fresh SB196 containing 30 mg/L hygromycin. The selection media is refreshed weekly. Four to six weeks post-selection, green, transformed tissue is observed growing from untransformed, necrotic embryogenic clusters. Isolated, green tissue is removed and inoculated into multiwell plates to generate new, clonally propagated, transformed embryogenic suspension cultures.

Embryo Maturation:

Embryos are cultured for 4-6 weeks at 26° C. in SB196 under cool white fluorescent (Phillips cool white Econowatt F40/CW/RS/EW) and Agro (Phillips F40 Agro) bulbs (40 watt) on a 16:8 hr photoperiod with light intensity of 90-120 μE/m²s. After this time embryo clusters are removed to a solid agar media, SB166, for 1-2 weeks. Clusters are then subcultured to medium SB103 for 3 weeks. During this period, individual embryos are removed from the clusters and screened for alterations in their fatty acid compositions as described supra.

Media Recipes:

SB 196 - FN Lite Liquid Proliferation Medium (per liter) MS FeEDTA - 100x Stock 1 10 mL MS Sulfate - 100x Stock 2 10 mL FN Lite Halides - 100x Stock 3 10 mL FN Lite P, B, Mo - 100x Stock 4 10 mL B5 vitamins (1 mL/L) 1.0 mL 2,4-D (10 mg/L final concentration) 1.0 mL KNO₃ 2.83 gm (NH₄)₂SO₄ 0.463 gm asparagine 1.0 gm sucrose (1%) 10 gm pH 5.8

FN Lite Stock Solutions Stock Number 1000 mL 500 mL 1 MS Fe EDTA 100x Stock Na₂ EDTA* 3.724 g 1.862 g FeSO₄—7H₂O 2.784 g 1.392 g 2 MS Sulfate 100x stock MgSO₄—7H₂O 37.0 g 18.5 g MnSO₄—H₂O 1.69 g 0.845 g ZnSO₄—7H₂O 0.86 g 0.43 g CuSO₄—5H₂O 0.0025 g 0.00125 g 3 FN Lite Halides 100x Stock CaCl₂—2H₂O 30.0 g 15.0 g KI 0.083 g 0.0715 g CoCl₂—6H₂O 0.0025 g 0.00125 g 4 FN Lite P, B, Mo 100x Stock KH₂PO₄ 18.5 g 9.25 g H₃BO₃ 0.62 g 0.31 g Na₂MoO₄—2H₂O 0.025 g 0.0125 g *Add first, dissolve in dark bottle while stirring

SB1 Solid Medium (Per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL—Cat. No. 11117-066) 1 mL B5 vitamins 1000× stock 31.5 g sucrose 2 mL 2,4-D (20 mg/L final concentration) pH 5.7 8 g TC agar

SB 166 Solid Medium (Per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL—Cat. No. 11117-066) 1 mL B5 vitamins 1000× stock 60 g maltose 750 mg MgCl₂ hexahydrate 5 g activated charcoal pH 5.7 2 g gelrite

SB 103 Solid Medium (Per Liter)

1 package MS salts (Gibco/BRL—Cat. No. 11117-066) 1 mL B5 vitamins 1000× stock 60 g maltose 750 mg MgCl₂ hexahydrate pH 5.7 2 g gelrite

SB 71-4 Solid Medium (Per Liter)

1 bottle Gamborg's B5 salts with sucrose (Gibco/BRL—Cat. No. 21153-036) pH 5.7 5 g TC agar

2,4-D Stock

Obtain premade from Phytotech Cat. No. D 295—concentration 1 mg/mL

B5 Vitamins Stock (Per 100 mL)

Store aliquots at −20° C.

-   -   10 g myo-inositol     -   100 mg nicotinic acid     -   100 mg pyridoxine HCl     -   1 g thiamine         If the solution does not dissolve quickly enough, apply a low         level of heat via the hot stir plate.

Functional Analysis in Somatic Soybean Embryos

Mature somatic soybean embryos are a good model for zygotic embryos. While in the globular embryo state in liquid culture, somatic soybean embryos contain very low amounts of triacylglycerol (TAG) or storage proteins typical of maturing, zygotic soybean embryos. At this developmental stage, the ratio of total triacylglyceride to total polar lipid (phospholipids and glycolipid) is about 1:4, as is typical of zygotic soybean embryos at the developmental stage from which the somatic embryo culture was initiated. At the globular stage as well, the mRNAs for the prominent seed proteins, α′-subunit of β-conglycinin, kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3, and seed lectin are essentially absent. Upon transfer to hormone-free media to allow differentiation to the maturing somatic embryo state, TAG becomes the most abundant lipid class. As well, mRNAs for a′-subunit of 13-conglycinin, kunitz trypsin inhibitor 3 and seed lectin become very abundant messages in the total mRNA population. On this basis, the somatic soybean embryo system behaves very similarly to maturing zygotic soybean embryos in vivo, and is thus a good and rapid model system for analyzing the phenotypic effects of modifying the expression of genes in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (see PCT Publication No. WO 2002/00904). The model system is also predictive of the fatty acid composition of seeds from plants derived from transgenic embryos.

Example 7 Assay of GAS Phenotype and Results

Transformations of Glycine max cv. Jack were carried out with GM-396b-GAS C(22)/KS322 (FIG. 1; SEQ ID NO:15) and a similar control plasmid designed to produce a 21 nucleotide amiRNA. Both contained artificial microRNA sequences targeted against the galactinol synthase (GAS) genes under the control of a seed specific promoter. Silencing of the GAS genes would be expected to lead to decreased accumulation of raffinose and stachyose in seeds as compared to non-transformed seeds and somatic embryos.

Individual immature soybean embryos were dried-down (by transferring them into an empty small petri dish that was seated on top of a 10 cm petri dish containing some agar gel to allow slow dry down) to mimic the last stages of soybean seed development. Dried-down embryos are capable of producing plants when transferred to soil or soil-less media. Storage products produced by embryos at this stage are similar in composition to storage products produced by zygotic embryos at a similar stage of development, and most importantly, the storage product profile is predictive of plants derived from a somatic embryo line (PCT Publication No. WO 94/11516, which published on May 26, 1994). Raffinose Family Oligosaccharides (raffinose, stachyose) were measured in the transgenic somatic embryos using thin layer chromatography. Somatic embryos were extracted with hexane then dried. The dried material was re-suspended in 80% methanol, incubated at room temperature for 1-2 hours, and centrifuged, and then 2 μl of the supernatant was spotted onto a TLC plate (Kieselgel 60 CF, from EM Scientific, Gibbstown, N.J.; Catalog No. 13749-6). The TLC was run in ethylacetate: isopropanol:20% acetic acid (3:4:4) for 1-1.5 hours. The air dried plates were sprayed with 2% sulfuric acid and heated until the charred sugars were detected.

For each transgenic event produced, four embryos were assayed as described in the above paragraph. The TLC plates were examined visually for the presence or absence of raffinose and stachyose. Events with two or more embryos having no raffinose and no stachyose were considered silenced.

GM-396b-GASC(22) showed a 65% silencing efficiency as compared to GM-396b-GAS C (the same construct except producing only a 21 nucleotide amiRNA), which showed 0% silencing efficiency. These results show that the 22 nucleotide amiRNA precursors are capable of producing amiRNAs that are effective in the silencing of multiple members of the GAS gene family.

Example 8 Assay of Fatty Acid Phenotype and Results

Transformations of Glycine max cv. Jack were carried out with GM-159-FAD2-1b(22)/KS322 (FIG. 2; SEQ ID NO:22) and a similar control plasmid designed to produce a 21 nucleotide amiRNA. Both contained artificial microRNA sequences targeted against fatty acid desaturase 2-1 under the control of a seed specific promoter. Silencing of fatty acid desaturase 2-1 would be expected to lead to somewhat increased levels of oleic acid in somatic embryos and much higher levels of oleic acid in seeds as compared to non-transformed seeds and somatic embryos. Because of the properties of the 22 nucleotide amiRNA it would be expected to silence both FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 which would be expected to lead to increased levels of oleic acid in somatic embryos and in seeds as compared to non-transformed seeds and somatic embryos.

GC analysis of FAME was employed to investigate if amiRNA expression alters the fatty acid profile of soybean somatic embryos. Approximately 5 somatic embryos were analyzed per event and 25-50 events were analyzed per construct. Each somatic embryo was placed in a GC vial. For transesterification, 50 μL, of trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) was added to the GC vial and then incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature while shaking. Then 0.4 mL of heptane was added to the GC vial and incubated for 30 min at room temperature while shaking Fatty acid methyl esters (54, injected from heptane layer) were separated and quantified using a Hewlett-Packard 6890 Gas Chromatograph fitted with an Omegawax 320 fused silica capillary column (Catalog #24152, Supelco Inc.). The oven temperature was programmed to hold at 220° C. for 2.6 min, increase to 240° C. at 20° C./min and then hold for an additional 2.4 min. Carrier gas was supplied by a Whatman hydrogen generator. Retention times were compared to those for methyl esters of standards commercially available (Nu-Chek Prep, Inc.).

Silencing of fatty acid desaturase leads to an increased level of oleic acid. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the amount of oleic acid as a percentage of all types of fatty acid. Each data point is representative of a single embryo, and five embryos were assayed from each transgenic event. Wild type embryos typically show between 5-15% oleic acid. An event was considered silenced if three or more somatic embryos showed oleic acid levels greater than 20%. Because FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 are expressed in soybean somatic embryos, silencing of FAD2-1 alone would show only slightly elevated levels of oleic acid while silencing of both FAD2-1 and FAD2-2 would show more significant elevated levels of oleic acid. GM-159 FAD2-1B(22) showed a 65% silencing efficiency as compared to GM-159 FAD2-1B (the same construct except producing only a 21 nucleotide amiRNA), which showed only a 26% silencing efficiency (FIGS. 3 and 4). These results show that the 22 nucleotide amiRNA precursors are capable of producing amiRNAs that are effective in gene silencing of more than one FAD2.

Example 9 Generation and Analysis of Seeds with a Silenced Phenotype

Dried down embryos described in Example 6 can be germinated and the plants regenerated. Seeds from transgenic plants can be harvested and assayed for GAS activity, as in Example 7, or for fatty acid content, as in Example 8.

Example 10 22-nt Artificial MicroRNA (amiRNA) Constructs in Maize

22-nt miRNAs can also be made to silence multiple genes in maize (as described in Example 1), and star sequences can be designed as described in Example 2. In addition, US20090155909A1 (WO 2009/079548) describes maize genomic miRNA precursor sequences that can be converted into effective amiRNAs (Example 3).

The amiRNA cassette can be cloned into an appropriate expression vector, such as PHP23576 (FIG. 5), which contains a ubiquitin promoter-intron and Gateway (Invitrogen) L1 and L2 sites, and the resulting plasmids can be recombined with plasmid PHP20622 (PCT Publication No. WO2006/107,931 published Oct. 12, 2006). The resulting plasmids can then be co-integrated into the LBA4404 Agrobacterium strain LBA4404-containing plasmid PHP10523 and can be used for transformation of maize as described in Example 11.

The resulting transformants can be analyzed phenotypically and compared to non-transformed and control transformed tissue.

Example 11 Transformation of Maize

A. Maize Particle-Mediated DNA Delivery

A DNA construct can be introduced into maize cells capable of growth on suitable maize culture medium. Such competent cells can be from maize suspension culture, callus culture on solid medium, freshly isolated immature embryos or meristem cells. Immature embryos of the Hi-II genotype can be used as the target cells. Ears are harvested at approximately 10 days post-pollination, and 1.2-1.5 mm immature embryos are isolated from the kernels, and placed scutellum-side down on maize culture medium.

The immature embryos are bombarded from 18-72 hours after being harvested from the ear. Between 6 and 18 hours prior to bombardment, the immature embryos are placed on medium with additional osmoticum (MS basal medium, Musashige and Skoog, 1962, Physiol. Plant 15:473-497, with 0.25 M sorbitol). The embryos on the high-osmotic medium are used as the bombardment target, and are left on this medium for an additional 18 hours after bombardment.

For particle bombardment, plasmid DNA (described above) is precipitated onto 1.8 mm tungsten particles using standard CaCl2-spermidine chemistry (see, for example, Klein et al., 1987, Nature 327:70-73). Each plate is bombarded once at 600 PSI, using a DuPont Helium Gun (Lowe et al., 1995, Bio/Technol 13:677-682). For typical media formulations used for maize immature embryo isolation, callus initiation, callus proliferation and regeneration of plants, see Armstrong, C., 1994, In “The Maize Handbook”, M. Freeling and V. Walbot, eds. Springer Verlag, NY, pp 663-671.

Within 1-7 days after particle bombardment, the embryos are moved onto N6-based culture medium containing 3 mg/l of the selective agent bialaphos. Embryos, and later callus, are transferred to fresh selection plates every 2 weeks. The calli developing from the immature embryos are screened for the desired phenotype. After 6-8 weeks, transformed calli are recovered.

B. Transformation of Maize Using Agrobacterium

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize is performed essentially as described by Zhao et al., in Meth. Mol. Biol. 318:315-323 (2006) (see also Zhao et al., Mol. Breed. 8:323-333 (2001) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,840 issued Nov. 9, 1999, incorporated herein by reference). The transformation process involves bacterium inoculation, co-cultivation, resting, selection and plant regeneration.

1. Immature Embryo Preparation:

Immature maize embryos are dissected from caryopses and placed in a 2 mL microtube containing 2 mL PHI-A medium.

2. Agrobacterium Infection and Co-Cultivation of Immature Embryos:

2.1 Infection Step:

-   -   PHI-A medium of (1) is removed with 1 mL micropipettor, and 1 mL         of Agrobacterium suspension is added. The tube is gently         inverted to mix. The mixture is incubated for 5 min at room         temperature.

2.2 Co-culture Step:

-   -   The Agrobacterium suspension is removed from the infection step         with a 1 mL micropipettor. Using a sterile spatula the embryos         are scraped from the tube and transferred to a plate of PHI-B         medium in a 100×15 mm Petri dish. The embryos are oriented with         the embryonic axis down on the surface of the medium. Plates         with the embryos are cultured at 20° C., in darkness, for three         days. L-Cysteine can be used in the co-cultivation phase. With         the standard binary vector, the co-cultivation medium supplied         with 100-400 mg/L L-cysteine is critical for recovering stable         transgenic events.

3. Selection of Putative Transgenic Events:

To each plate of PHI-D medium in a 100×15 mm Petri dish, 10 embryos are transferred, maintaining orientation and the dishes are sealed with parafilm. The plates are incubated in darkness at 28° C. Actively growing putative events, as pale yellow embryonic tissue, are expected to be visible in six to eight weeks. Embryos that produce no events may be brown and necrotic, and little friable tissue growth is evident. Putative transgenic embryonic tissue is subcultured to fresh PHI-D plates at two-three week intervals, depending on growth rate. The events are recorded.

4. Regeneration of T0 plants:

Embryonic tissue propagated on PHI-D medium is subcultured to PHI-E medium (somatic embryo maturation medium), in 100×25 mm Petri dishes and incubated at 28° C., in darkness, until somatic embryos mature, for about ten to eighteen days. Individual, matured somatic embryos with well-defined scutellum and coleoptile are transferred to PHI-F embryo germination medium and incubated at 28° C. in the light (about 80 μE from cool white or equivalent fluorescent lamps). In seven to ten days, regenerated plants, about 10 cm tall, are potted in horticultural mix and hardened-off using standard horticultural methods.

Media for Plant Transformation:

-   1. PHI-A: 4 g/L CHU basal salts, 1.0 mL/L 1000× Eriksson's vitamin     mix, 0.5 mg/L thiamin HCl, 1.5 mg/L 2,4-D, 0.69 g/L L-proline, 68.5     g/L sucrose, 36 g/L glucose, pH 5.2. Add 100 μM acetosyringone     (filter-sterilized). -   2. PHI-B: PHI-A without glucose, increase 2,4-D to 2 mg/L, reduce     sucrose to 30 g/L and supplemented with 0.85 mg/L silver nitrate     (filter-sterilized), 3.0 g/L Gelrite®, 100 μM acetosyringone     (filter-sterilized), pH 5.8. -   3. PHI-C: PHI-B without Gelrite® and acetosyringonee, reduce 2,4-D     to 1.5 mg/L and supplemented with 8.0 g/L agar, 0.5 g/L     2-[N-morpholino]ethane-sulfonic acid (MES) buffer, 100 mg/L     carbenicillin (filter-sterilized).     4. PHI-D: PHI-C supplemented with 3 mg/L bialaphos     (filter-sterilized).     5. PHI-E: 4.3 g/L of Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts, (Gibco, BRL     11117-074), 0.5 mg/L nicotinic acid, 0.1 mg/L thiamine HCl, 0.5 mg/L     pyridoxine HCl, 2.0 mg/L glycine, 0.1 g/L myo-inositol, 0.5 mg/L     zeatin (Sigma, Cat. No. Z-0164), 1 mg/L indole acetic acid (IAA),     26.4 μg/L abscisic acid (ABA), 60 g/L sucrose, 3 mg/L bialaphos     (filter-sterilized), 100 mg/L carbenicillin (filter-sterilized), 8     g/L agar, pH 5.6. -   6. PHI-F: PHI-E without zeatin, IAA, ABA; reduce sucrose to 40 g/L;     replacing agar with 1.5 g/L Gelrite®; pH 5.6.

Plants can be regenerated from the transgenic callus by first transferring clusters of tissue to N6 medium supplemented with 0.2 mg per liter of 2,4 D. After two weeks the tissue can be transferred to regeneration medium (Fromm et al., Bio/Technology 8:833 839 (1990)).

TABLE 2 SEQ ID RNA/ NO: DNA Description 1 RNA RNA sequence of the GAS 22 nucleotide amiRNA 2 DNA DNA sequence corresponding to the GAS 22 nucleotide amiRNA. 3 RNA RNA sequence of the FAD2-1b 22 nucleotide amiRNA. 4 DNA DNA sequence corresponding to the FAD2-1b 22 nucleotide amiRNA. 5 RNA RNA sequence of the GAS artificial star sequence. 6 DNA DNA sequence corresponding to the GAS artificial star sequence. 7 RNA RNA sequence of the FAD2-1b artificial star sequence 8 DNA DNA sequence corresponding to the FAD2-1b artificial star sequence. 9 DNA DNA sequence of the miRNA GM-396b precursor backbone. 10 DNA DNA sequence of the In-Fusion ™ ready microRNA GM- 396b precursor backbone. 11 DNA DNA sequence of the In-Fusion ™ ready microRNA GM- 396b-KS332 plasmid. 12 DNA Sequence of the GM-396b-GASC(22) priA primer. 13 DNA Sequence of the GM-396b-GASC(22) priB primer. 14 DNA Sequence of the GM-396b-GAS(22) amplified DNA. 15 DNA Sequence of the GM-396b-GAS C(22)/KS322 plasmid (also known as PHP46272; FIG. 1). 16 DNA DNA sequence of the miRNA GM-159 precursor backbone. 17 DNA DNA sequence of the In-Fusion ™ ready microRNA GM- 159 precursor backbone. 18 DNA DNA sequence of the In-Fusion ™ ready microRNA GM- 159-KS332 plasmid. 19 DNA Sequence of the GM-159-FAD2-1b (22) priA primer. 20 DNA Sequence of the GM-159-FAD2-1b (22) priB primer. 21 DNA Sequence of the GM-159-FAD2-1B (22) amplified DNA. 22 DNA Sequence of the GM-159-FAD2-1b(22)/KS322 plasmid (also known as PHP46271)

The article “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one or more element.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An isolated or recombinant polynucleotide capable of being transcribed into an RNA sequence, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a miRNA expression construct, wherein said miRNA expression construct comprises: a) a miRNA precursor backbone comprising a first polynucleotide segment encoding a miRNA and a second polynucleotide segment encoding a star sequence; b) said first and said second polynucleotide segments are heterologous to the miRNA precursor backbone; c) said first polynucleotide segment comprises 22-nucleotides (22-nt) which have sufficient sequence complementary to a target sequence whose level of RNA is to be reduced; d) said second polynucleotide segment comprises the complement of the first polynucleotide segment and further comprises at least 1 less nucleotide than said first polynucleotide segment, wherein a 22-nt miRNA is the most abundant form of miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct; and, e) said 22-nt miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct is capable of reducing the level of mRNA of the target sequence and of at least one additional sequence from the same protein and/or gene family, the members of which would not be reduced by a 21-nt miRNA directed to the same region as the 22-nt miRNA.
 2. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said first polynucleotide segment is 5′ to the said second polynucleotide segment.
 3. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said second polynucleotide segment is 5′ to the said first polynucleotide segment.
 4. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone is from a plant.
 5. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 4, wherein said plant is a monocot.
 6. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 4, wherein said plant is a dicot.
 7. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 5, wherein said monocot is maize.
 8. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 6, wherein said dicot is soybean.
 9. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone comprises a polynucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16 or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16, wherein said sequence retains miRNA precursor backbone activity.
 10. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein and/or gene family.
 11. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 10, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 6. 12. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 10, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 13. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase 2 protein and/or gene family.
 14. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 13, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 8. 15. The isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim 13, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 3. 16. A recombinant DNA construct comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim
 1. 17. The recombinant DNA construct of claim 16, wherein said recombinant DNA construct comprises a promoter operably linked to the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide.
 18. A transformed plant cell comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim
 1. 19. A transformed plant comprising the isolated or recombinant polynucleotide of claim
 1. 20. The transformed plant cell of claim 18, wherein said plant cell is from a dicot plant.
 21. The transformed plant cell of claim 20, wherein said dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa.
 22. The transformed plant cell of claim 18, wherein said plant cell is from a monocot plant.
 23. The transformed plant cell of claim 22, wherein said monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye.
 24. The transformed plant of claim 19, wherein said plant is a dicot.
 25. The transformed plant of claim 24, wherein said dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa.
 26. The transformed plant of claim 19, wherein said plant is a monocot.
 27. The transformed plant of claim 26, wherein said monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye.
 28. A transformed seed of the plant of claim
 19. 29. A method of reducing the level of mRNA of at least two sequences from the same protein and/or gene family in a cell comprising introducing into the cell the recombinant or isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the expression of said polynucleotide reduces the level of mRNA of each of said at least two sequences relative to the level of mRNA of each of said at least two sequences in the absence of expression of said polynucleotide.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the level of mRNA of only one of said two or more sequences would be reduced if said miRNA was 21 nucleotides in length.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein said cell is a plant cell.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein said miRNA precursor backbone comprises a polynucleotide sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 9 or 16 or a sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NOS: 9 or 16, wherein said sequence retains miRNA precursor backbone activity.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the galactinol synthase (GAS) protein and/or gene family.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 6. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 36. The method of claim 29, wherein said target sequence encodes a member of the delta 12 fatty acid desaturase 2 protein and/or gene family.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 and the second polynucleotide segment comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 8. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said miRNA produced from said miRNA expression construct comprises the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
 3. 39. The method of claim 31, wherein said plant is a dicot.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein said dicot is soybean, Brassica, sunflower, cotton, or alfalfa.
 41. The method of claim 31, wherein said plant is a monocot.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein said monocot is maize, sugarcane, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum, or rye. 